1845 ADONIRAM JUDSON. Original MSs Draft of Death Hymn for Sarah B. Judson by W. H. Washburn.

An absolutely superb likely working draft of the mourning hymn written immediately upon Adoniram Judson's solemn return to America in 1845, during which his wife, Sarah Boardman Judson [1803-1845], died en route and was buried in St. Helena.  Sarah was herself a force of nature as a missionary, translator, and author. Born in Alstead, New Hampshire, she early sensed a call to the mission field and was first married to missionary George Boardman. They served in Burma together from 1824 until his death in 1830.  Almost without exception, widowed missionary wives would return to the United States where funds were established for their care. Sarah refused the request and continued the management of the schools they had established and also took up the work of preaching in the villages begun by her husband.  She married Adoniram Judsonin 1834. From 1834-1844 she gave birth to 8 children and continued her work as a missionary . . . translating Pilgrim's Progress into Burmese in her spare tim